On the sixth day, God created humankind, and on the seventh day, God rested. In this act, the Creator of the universe modeled something foundational: Rest comes first.
God formed Adam and Eve and gave them the responsibility to steward creation. But instead of immediately prodding them to get to work, God instituted the practice of abiding in Him through rest before the work began. What can we learn from this? Life begins with rest. Progress can benefit from growth principles, how-to books, and strategies, but ultimately it emerges from resting in God.
You are bombarded with ideas, philosophies, and strategies to make your life better. And there is a tendency to feel like you’re never doing enough—even when it comes to rest! You are constantly being told that life would be easier if you had the right products or memberships or knowledge. The unfortunate result of this lie is frenetic overconsumption and burnout.
Rest in the Lord, however, is what releases you into a successful rhythm of healthy living.
The command to “remember the Sabbath” is not meant to burden us; it’s a command that God gave to help us flourish. While there are certainly helpful tools, products, or subscriptions that could be valuable in your life, it’s more important to practice the Sabbath well. We need to make space to connect with the Lord and each other. From this, our work in the world flows.
What constitutes a Sabbath? God doesn’t give us hard and fast rules when it comes to this important habit, but in general it looks like slowing down. This could differ depending on what kind of work you are taking a Sabbath from. For people whose work is primarily physical, they may find their best Sabbath practices are physically restful. For people whose work is primarily mental, they may find their best Sabbath practices are physically active.
God, in the Genesis account, rested from His work at least partly in order to enjoy His creation. It is appropriate—and even necessary—for us to take time to enjoy what is beautiful in the world, such as nature, music, and art. When we intentionally appreciate beauty, it refreshes and energizes us in unique ways.
It’s helpful to choose some regular habits for your Sabbath time, but aim to also allow for unplanned time. This means that you can do whatever comes to mind or in your heart to do. We need this kind of complete cessation from activity. Otherwise, even planned time off can become just another form of tiring exertion.
Here are some ideas for Sabbath practices that can help you find rest in the Lord:
- walking or hiking
- praying
- practicing solitude
- journaling
- communal play
- reading
- meditating or reflecting
- gathering for corporate worship
- conversing
- enjoying good food
- gardening
How can you practice rest in the Lord this week?
